Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director, Education and Inclusion

The Assistant Director, Education and Inclusion, submitted a report (previously circulated) to provide an overview of the work being undertaken to remodel the existing Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) resource base at Heathfield Primary School.

The submitted report stated that the resource base at Heathfield Primary School, which was part of Lingfield Academy Trust, had been in its current configuration for a number of years, and that the Lingfield Academy Trust had worked in partnership with Darlington Borough Council to explore how the resource base could be re-modelled effective from September 2024, to be more reflective of and responsive to the needs of Darlington children and young people with SEND. 

It was reported that the re-modelling would see the base change to have a primary remit of support for communication and interaction needs which was aligned with the presenting need of Darlington children and young people with SEND, and that the base would be incrementally filled over a 3-year period supporting children from Reception to Year 2. It was noted that the re-modelling proposal fell within the Department for Education (DfE)’s significant change process for academies, and therefore required a period of open consultation, following which a business case could be submitted to DfE for review and determination.

Concern was expressed as to whether children at Northwood Primary School would still be able to access provision at Heathfield Primary School, and Members were reassured that they would and that there would be no impact on provision.  

RESOLVED - That the work being undertaken to remodel the existing resource base at Heathfield Primary School to align with, and respond to, the presenting needs of Darlington children with SEND, be noted.